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Second Norridge farmers market slated July 18
Axel Erkenswick (left) chops up parsley for the mushroom, cheese and parsley crepe from Penny Pastry as his brother Linus helps out at the Norridge Farmer's Market June 20. This was the first of five farmer's markets held at the Sieb Center Parking Lot. |
Updated: August 13, 2012 6:09AM
An opportunity to purchase farm-fresh goods brought people out in droves to Norridge’s inaugural farmers market in June.
The market attracted about 650 shoppers.
The market will return from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday in the parking lot just east of the Sieb Center, 7774 W. Irving Park Road.
“Many of the vendors sold out,” said Trustee Donald Gelsomino. “They were very happy.”
Among the vendors were Brunkow Cheese from Darlington, Wis., which featured cheddar cheese along with cheese curds and Finnish-style bread. Another vendor, Dennanne Honey, is an Elgin-based operation that not only offers honey but also beeswax candles and soap.
More vendors included River Valley Mushrooms of Burlington, Wis.; Algonquin-based KAP Farms, which promises to offer a plethora of fruits, vegetables, herbs and greens; and Chicago-based Crumb Bakery.
The village decided to hold its market on Wednesdays so as not to compete with other villages, Gelsomino explained.
“We did our research,” he said. “We went to farmers markets all over. This was a year in the works.”
The attention to detail seems to have paid off.
Area resident Barbara Gurga called the market “very nice.”
“I liked everything here, especially the cheese and honey,” she said.
Trustees Jacqueline Gregorio and Ursula Kucharski said they were impressed with the freshness of the produce, noting their purchases lasted much longer than those same items bought at the grocery store.
Area resident Joanna Safinski said she was impressed with the village’s first effort, and looked forward to seeing the market expand.
“I came out to see what they had,” she said. “This was a very good start. I hope in the future, it gets larger.”
Safinski may be onto something.
Gelsomino said at least two more vendors have signed up for this month’s market, one of which will feature fruit, jellies, jams and preserves.
The market also is community-minded, Gelsomino noted.
“Space is available for local organizations wanting to promote their programs,” he said.
Norridge residents Kate Tomiszewski and Mary O’Connor, who chipped in on a booth to sell a variety of items including jewelry, toys and spices, said they were amazed at the initial turnout.
“We like to partner up at these events so one of us can go look around while the other mans the stand,” Tomiszewski said. “But we were so busy, neither one of us had the time.”
